Fans worry over Gary Hooper future

Gary Hooper celebrates his goal and shows why Neil Lennon is desperate to keep him

WHILE Neil Lennon clearly likes a laugh on the phone, the same can’t be said for Hotline callers who dialled to fret over the future of Gary Hooper.

With the big Champions League showdown against Juventus looming ever closer, most Hoops fans are desperate to hang on to their top striker.

But one dissenting voice came on to applaud Hooper’s camp for making it known he has rejected Celtic’s improved contract offer.

Kevin McQuade, New Stevenston, said: “Celtic supporters are complaining about Hooper but what he’s doing is a breath of fresh air.

“Knocking back the new contract exposes the cronyism in the Celtic dressing room that sees Hooper getting paid way less than Scott Brown and Joe ‘The Ghost’ Ledley.

“I say ghost because Ledley is too often anonymous in the middle of the park and Brown has played five good games in as many years. If Hooper is getting less than those two he is well within his rights to want what he is worth.”

Before the winter break Lennon’s assistant Garry Parker said Hooper would be mad to leave Celtic just now and Frances Crawly, Blackpool, couldn’t agree more.

Frances said: “I can’t see why Hooper would go to Norwich and straight into a relegation battle.

“If he stays and scores against Juventus to help us qualify for the last eight and then scores another one at that stage of the competition, imagine what his value would be then.

“I can understand if a top-four club calls for you then you go but he can do a lot better than Norwich.”

Ian McCabe, Airdrie, said: “I can’t imagine why anybody at Celtic would let Hooper go now. If they hold on to the summer they could double their money on the £6million that is being offered just now.”

Double your bubble is maybe a tad optimistic but there is a general feeling Hooper can get better if he holds out in Glasgow until the summer.

Away from the Hooper situation but staying on Celtic, Stewart Douglas, Bishopbriggs, said: “I never thought the words Neil Lennon and sense of humour could appear in the same sentence. But I must admit I had a chuckle at the way he handled his press conference being interrupted by a phone call from the now infamous Sharon.”

Hoops fan Lance Little, Erskine, said: “I would like to thank and commend my fellow Celtic supporters for turning out for the Dundee United match. Nearly 43,000 on a freezing Tuesday night was unbelievable.

“These are people who, like all fans, feel the brunt of the recession but still turn up to support the club – and at full SPL prices, not bargain basement ones.

“I hope the media start to appreciate this instead of lauding a team whose fans can take a family of four to a match for £30 and realise that’s why they have large crowds.”

Scotland’s new management earned some praise from Gers fan Wilson Mason, Bridgeton. He said: “I like the way Gordon Strachan and Mark McGhee have come out with a positive attitude saying they will look at Rangers players.

“And McGhee saying we can still qualify is not as daft as it sounds. If you go into a new job believing you have no chance what does that achieve? I wish them all the best.”

Not such warm wishes for Hearts new loan signing Danny Wilson though. Ian Loudon, Dunfermline, said: “So Wilson has no regrets at leaving Ibrox and he’s back from Liverpool a much better player. He has managed that in nine games in three years has he? Let’s be honest, he made a mess of it. He knows it and we all know it.”

Frank Ramage, Dumbarton, reckons another face from the past should come back to the SPL too.

He said: “Aberdeen are looking for a striker and Kris Boyd is out of contract. Why don’t they use the money they got for Ryan Fraser by giving him a six-month deal because the goals he’d score to get them into Europe would repay his wages.

“Dons fans might object at first to an ex-Rangers player but that would change as soon as he starts banging the goals in.”